Optical system for determining the color of inks



Dec. 1, 1942. BENDER 2,303,905

OPTICAL SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING THE COLOR OF INKS Original Filed Sept. 9, 1937 INVENTOR FREDERICK M.BENDER BY ATTO R N EYS Patented pee. 1,1942 7 was; "ST

PATENT. ff

' OPTICAL SYSTEM FOR DETERMININGTHE' COLOR F INKS I Frederick M'. Bender, East Orange, N. J., assignor to Speedry Gravure Corporation, New York; N. Y., a corporation of New York Original application September 9, 1937, Serial No. I 163,021. Divided and this application August 2, 1940, Serial N0. 349,389 I 7 2 Claims. This invention relates to means for determining color intensity, and more particularly, to a mechanism whereby the intensity of color of the inks .fed to printing presse may be determined and controlled within close limits. This is a division of my application Serial No. 163,021, filed September 9, 1937 (Patent No. 2,262,573, issued No- I vember 11, 1941). y

In orderto obtain a finished product of high qualityhr the color printing art, great care must generally unsatisfactory.

An object of my invention is to provide a greatly improved device by means of which slight changes in the intensity of color of the ink can be instantly detected and corrected.

The invention isattained by directing rays of light through a transparent chamber in which the colored ink flows. The light so transmitted is passed through a complementary color filter with the result, that changes in the intensity of color of the ink appear as changes in the in-' tensity of the light emanating from the color filter. By comparing the filtered light with light of a standard intensity, changes in color intensity of the ink may be instantly detected and correctech Additional objects will be readily apparent from the. following detailed description and from the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a view in vertical section of a device constructed in accordance with this invention; I

Fig. 1a is an end view of the device shown-in Fig. 1; and

Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the component parts of the system by means of which ink may be supplied to a printing press in accordance withthe present invention.

Referringto Figure 1, the comparison device is designated by the number 5 and comprises a lamp 6 and achamber I through'which the ink supply to the fountain flows. The sides 8 and 9 of the chamber 1 are of a transparent material in'orderthat light from the lamp 6 may be (01.88-14) transmitted through the ink stream into a closed cylinder ll. At the open endof the'cylinder llthere is secured a translucent apertur'eddisc'lz,

the aperture being covered by a light filter l3 5 which is complementary to-the 'color of the ink flowing in the transparent chamber I. With this construction any change in the intensity of color,

of the ink supply results'in a variation in the filter l3.

against the chamber I, and is formed witlra circular aperture in which the cylinder I I is received. Light from a lamp 6' impinges'on the surface of the reflector l0 and is reflected to the translucent disc I2 which is so constructed-that.

light passing through it is of the sameintensity as light passing throughthe ink inthe chamber 7 I when the color intensity of the ink is correct. In this fashion, the disc I2 constitutes a standard of comparison against which the intensity of the light passing through the filter l3 can be checked.

If the ink in the chamber 1 becomes too light in color, the intensity of the light from the filter 13 will increase relative to the standard, so that a central region of relatively high intensity is observed against an outer region of lesser intensity. While the human eye is not sensitive sensitive to slight variations in light intensity.

degree of effectiveness to visually indicate slight variations in the intensity of colors of inks. The

' variations in color can then be readily corrected by manually adding either more inkor an ink solvent.

As indicated in Figure 2 the, ink system comprises an ink storage tank 69 connected to the is a valve 64'. A solvent storage tank 'l 3'is likewise connected to the supply tank '12 by means' suitable operation of the valves, 64 and 64'.

' The device instantaneously registers any changesiin the color intensity lof theinkfed to I the ink fountain so that more or 'lessink or sol-1r intensity of the light beam emanating; from the' A circular reflector Ill is adapted-to fit snugly V to slight changes in color'intensities, it is quite supply tank 12 through a pipe H in which there the intensity of color of the ink so that its color. intensity may be brought back to normal by -'ten$ ,t y of ink. As a of-constant color intensity may be readily and vent, as the case may be, can be fed thereto for the, purpose of preserving a desired color inresult of this invention, ink

easilyw maintained over, long periods of operation.

Inasmuch as, in commercial printing operations, an ingredient known as extender" is used 7 as well as solvent to maintain a desired uniformity of tone strength, it is understood that this invention contemplates such use, and, if desired.

the addition or the extender may be determined as well as the solvent by means of this inven- I source of light of a plurality of wave lengths, an

ink chamber having a pair of parallel transparent sides through which the said light may be transmitted, an open ended chamber disposed to receive light at one end thereof through said ink chamber, a color filter at the other open end of the said chamber complementary to the color .lengths, an ink chamber having a pair of trans;-

of the ink, a translucent member surrounding said filter in lateral confining relation, and means to transmit light rays of a standard color ,and intensity through said translucent member.-

so that the rays 01 light passed through the filter are surrounded by' adjacent rays of a I standard color and intensity whereby changes in the intensity of the filtered light may be readily observed.

2. A color-determining device for use in inking mechanisms for printing presses comprising a source of light of a plurality of wave parent sides through which the said light may be transmitted, an open ended chamber disposed to receive light at one end thereof through said inkcchamber, a color filter at the 'other end, of the said chamber complementary to the color of I the ink to absorb certain' of the' said wave lengths, a translucent apertured -disc disposed axially on said chamber at the outer end thereof and in substantial alignment with said filter, a second source of light and means to direct light from said second sourcethrough said translucent disc in substantially the same direction the light waves are transmitted through said filter,

FREDERICK M. BENDER. 

